Egg package



Feb. 8, 1966 E. KNlRlM 3,234,030

EGG PACKAGE Filed Jan. 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EYL Knrm Feb.8, 1966 E. KNlRlM 3,234,030

EGG PACKAGE Filed Jan. 3, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /f INVENTOR. 32 Eril.Km'rim United States Patent D M 2 claims. (cl. 99-177) The presentinvention relates to the packaging of eggs and, more particularly, to animproved egg package and method of making same.

Generally eggs are shipped in crates or cartons containing several dozeneggs nested in compartments or positioned upon so-called flats which,like the usual egg spacer, is composed of a liquid-absorbing brousmaterial. Moreover, raw eggs are commonly retailed in paper, papier-mchor cardboard containers formed with removable compartments or individualrecesses adapted to receive the eggs.

All of these packaging techniques have several disadvantages. Firstly,the packaging material is, for the most part, opaque, thereby preventingcomplete and ready inspection of the contents of the package. This isparticularly important since eggs are notoriously fragile and tend tocrack in shipping. It has thus been necessary, in instances wherecomplete inspection is not economical, to assume a certain proportion ofcracks, thereby reducing the selling price. Secondly, the packagingmaterials are readily deformed by the application of even moderateforces during normal handling thus forcing portions of the carton wallinto such contact with the shell that cracking of the latter results.

Another disadvantage 'of earlier techniques resides in the fact thatpaper-based packaging materials are liquidabsorptive so that thecontents of a cracked egg which leaks from the shell is drawn into theinterstices of the packaging material, simultaneously preventingrecovery of the egg and rendering the packaging material unfit forreuse. A further disadvantage derives from the fact that many types ofegg cartons are incapable of withstanding the compressive stresses thatarises from stacking of the containers so that, in most instances, theeggs themselves ymust withstand these forces. This factor preventsstacking of eggs to any substantial height and, therfore, results in arequirement for greater storage area.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an egg package whichis capable of avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages and providing aninexpensive unit characterized by ease in handling and storage,

This object is attained, in accordance with the invention, by providingan egg package consisting of an upper and a lower foil member of asubstantially huid-impermeable resilient sheet material formed withrespective corresponding arrays of spaced cups registering with and openin the direction of corresponding cups of the other member in ajuxtaposed position of the two members in which the cups extendoutwardly from a median plane at the interface. Advantageously, the toilmembers have marginal portions in surface contact along the periphery ofeach array so that the corresponding cups of the two members form anenclosure for the egg capable of Patented Fein. 8, i366 ICC retainingfor prolonged periods even the liquid contents thereof should crackingoccur.

Since eggs are usually stored in an upright condition, that is to saywith their axis generally Vertical and their narrower end downwardly,the cups of the upper member are shaped generally to conform to theconfiguration of the broader end of the egg while those of the lowermember conform generally to the narrower end. Preferably, the respectivearrays of cups extend substantially longitudinally and may beorthogonally aligned so that package can receive six, ten or twelve eggsas the case may be. It must be pointed out, however, that the methoddescribed in conjunction with this invention is equally applicable tothe packaging of greater or fewer numbers of eggs.

While substantially and relatively liquid-impermeable foil may beemployed in connection with the invention, it is preferred to make useof a sheet material which is transparent as well as tough but yet can beeasily shaped into the desired configuration. It has been found thatsynthetic resin foils (e.g. of hard polyvinylchloride etc.) aresutlciently transparent to enable total inspection of the contents ifthe package while affording tthe egg protection required. When an opaquepackage is desired, however, it is possible to use one of the metalfoils (eg. aluminum foil) or a substrate porvided with a metallic layer.The metal should, of course, be inert to the liquid contents of the egg.When the synthetic resin sheet material is employed, it may be of thethermally fusible type to enable heat sealing of the periphery of thepackage to produce a substantially totally enclosed unit. The storage ofeggs, however, requires ventillation of the egg compartments to permitthe air sac in the broad portion of the egg to breathe and to allow theescape of gases. To this end at least one of the foil members isprovided with a channel communicating with the respective cups and opento the atmosphere. Further channels may be provided in one or both ofthe members to interconnect the compartments for facilitating thecirculation of air therethrough.

Another important feature of the instant invention resides in theformation of corrugations in the walls of the cups to reinforce thelatter against axial compressive forces of the type involved in thestacking of the egg packages. These corrugations may lie along axialplanes of each cup and be angularly spaced about the axis thereof whileextending perpendicularly to the interface. The corrugations alsoincrease the resilience of the enveloping wall of the cup so thatlateral shock is, to a certain extent, taken up by the elastic packagingmaterial. Moreover, the corrugations may form ribs extending into theinterior of each cup to reinforce the latter in the usual manner againstcompressive forces having components in the direction of the ribs. Thelatter may also serve, in part, for holding the eggs away fromsubstantial engagement with the cup wall whereby indentation of thelatter as a consequence of handling cannot result in egg breaking. Theseribs, which may extend radially into the interior of the cup to adistance of l or 2 mm. also serve to center the egg and prevent repeatedjostling of the latter against the cup wall. It has been found thatthese ribs play another significant role in the egg package in that theyspace the egg away from the wall to permit passage of air toward theupper and upper part of another in a stacked condition without.

danger that the upper one might slip oif the lower.

According to a more particular feature of the invention, the cups of atleast one of the foil members, preferably the lower but possibly both,are formed with seating means such as an annular seating surface for theeggs. This seating surface, in peripheral engagement with the egg,serves to center the latter and to hold it out of engagement with theupper and lower portions of the.y

Theser portions are provided with the compartment. aforementionedformations and are, therefore, spaced without danger thata substantial'part of the stacking load will be transferred tothe eggs.

The above and other objects, features and advantages vof the- -instantinvention will become more readily ap.- `parent from the followingdescription, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

' FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a foil provided with cups, inaccordance with the invention, prior to completion of the package;

Vfrom-the egg sro'that Vthey may yield to a certain extent FIG; 2 is afragmentary perspective view of the comv pleted package; Y FIG. 3 is across-sectional View taken generally along line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line IV--IV.of FIG. 2; and

FIG. -5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 butv Cups 16 and 18form two 10 parallel to the arrays and open at the common surface Vofthe foil while extending codirectionally therefrom. Median line 10bisects the foil into two halves or members one of which is adapted tooverlie the other upon folding of the foil along the line 1t). Aplurality of angularly spaced radial ribs 36 lie generally alonggeneratrices of the axially symmetrical cups 16 and 18, the former ofwhich are shaped to receive the broad end of an egg while the latterhave ,a configuration correspond-V ing to that of the narrower orpointed end of the egg; These ribs 36 are constituted by corrugations inthe wall ofthe cups which reinforce the latter against axial force andsimultaneously increase itsv resilience while spacing the egg therefrom.

The cups 16 and 18 of each array are interconnected by channels 28 ofthe generally rectangular cross-section which register with those of theother member to form a .Y

conduit of substantially square cross-section,` facilitating thecirculation of air into the interior of the enclosure formed by thecups. Main channels 26 extend, however; to the periphery of each arrayand, therefore, to the median line 10' in order to permit entry of airinto the compartments'when the unit is sealed along its peripheral edges50. To open the channels 26 at their junction :with

the foldline 10, this junction is incised at 30. The maximum depth towhich the ribs'36 extend into the compartment is'indicated at 38 and maybe from l-2 mm, as previously mentioned. An egg 17 is indicated in solidlinesto show its relation to the cups; It should be noted that an upwardbulge or built-up portion 32 is provided at 'therlower endof the Vlowercup to form a seating surface for the narrow end of the egg, therebycentering it generally out of contact with the major wall portions ofthe cups, It Should be noted. that the egg will onlyvConresponding cupsof theother member in a juxtaposed I tact the ribs when 'ofr a suicientsize to bear thereagainst, it being generally'the case that the egg willbe suiciently small to rest upon the seat 32V out of engagement withthese walls.

In FIG. 5 I show'a similar arrangement wherein the ribs 36of theupper'and lowercups 16 and 18l extend parallel to the axis of symmetryof the cups, the upper cups being formed with an indentation 46 vforminga seat for the broader end of the largest size eggs to be yreceived inthe'cup. The: cups of both embodiments are formed along the upperportions 44, 44 with domed parts out of engagement with the. egg whichare complementarily receivable within'concavities 42, 42 ingenerally/cylindrical lower parts 40, 40tof the bottom cups. Thesecomplementary formations facilitate stacking of the packages in `theirclosed ,condition as is shown schematically in dot-dash lines in FIG. 5.In the .latter embodiment the upper and lower foil members 12', 14iare`not integral as 'is the case with the members 12 .and y14 `of theernbodiments of FIGS. l-4 but are joined at the fold 10'; by

1. An egg package ,comprisingr an upper anda lower i foil member` of aresilient transparent, fluid-impermeable, synthetic-resin sheetmaterial, each of said members being provided with a longitudinall arrayof spaced axially symmetrical egg-containing cups axially registeringwith and open in the `direction of correspondingcups of the other4member'in a juxtaposed position'of said members whileV extendingoutwardly from a median plane inter-Vr Vmediate said members andparallelv to said array the cups of one of said arrays havingcylindrical extensions cen-r tered on the respective cup axes andforming annular seats for the eggs, said members being integral withoneanother along one edge of said package and' having marginal portions insurface contact along the peripheryk of said array, said marginalportions beingsealed together at least over part Vof said periphery, atleast one .of said l members being formed lwith `channels communicating`r with the cups thereof and .open at said periphery and at said one.edge to the atmosphere for .Ventilating said cups.` v

2.` An egg package comprising an upperand a lower foil vmember of'y `aresilient transparent, fluid-imperme-V able, synthetic-resin sheetmaterial, each .of .said members-being provided witha longitudinal arrayof spaced f cups registering withl-and open in the direction ofcorpositiony of said members` while extending outwardly from a`inedianr-plane intermediate said Vmembers and parallel to said airay,said `members being Aintegralwith one another along one edge of saidpackageand having marginal portions in surface contact'along theperiphery of said array, saidmarginal vportions being sealed 'togetherat least overl part of said periphery, at least one of said membersbeing-formed `with channels communicating with the cups thereof and openat said periphery and at said` one edge to the atmosphere forVentilating said cups,vsaid lower member ,being provided with annularseating surfaces at the bottom of each of its cups for receiving arespective egg andengaging ,the latter axiallyabove the bottom thereof,said cups of said lower member having cylindrical extensions transverseto said provided with a plurality of mutually aligned angularly 5 spacedribs lying substantially along generatrices ypf the respective cups tostiifen the latter against axial cor'npression forces, said ribs beinggenerally transverse t said median plane fand parallel to saidextensions while projecting inwardly into said cups for engagement withan egg disposed therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,173,114 2/1916Lane. 2,600,130 6/ 1952 Schilling 229-25 2,764,334 9/ 1956 Schwertfeger.

6 Grant 229-25 Grant 217-26,.5 Treida' 229-25 Hartniann et al 229-25FOREIGN PATENTS Belgium.

A, LOUIS M-ONACELL, Primary Examiner. 10 FRANKLIN T. GARRETr, Examiner.

J, L. KRUTER, L. M. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiners.

1. AN EGG PACKAGE COMPRISING AN UPPER AND A LOWER FOIL MEMBER OF ARESILIENT TRANSPARENT, FLUID-IMPERMEABLE, SYNTHETIC-RESIN SHEETMATERIAL, EACH OF SAID MEMEBERS BEING PROVIDED WITH A LONGITUDINAL ARRAYOF SPACED AXIALLY SYMMETRICAL EGG-CONTAINING CUPS AXIALLY REGISTERINGWITH AND OPEN IN THE DIRECTION OF CORRESPONDING CUPS OF THE OTHER MEMBERIN A JUXTAPOSED POSITION OF SAID MEMBERS WHILE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROMA MEDIAN PLANE INTERMEDIATE SAID MEMBERS AND PARALLEL TO SAID ARRAY THECUPS OF ONE OF SAID ARRAYS HAVING CYLINDRICAL EXTENSIONS CENTERED ON THERESPECTIVE CUP AXES AND FORMING ANNULAR SEATS FOR THE EGGS, SAID MEMBERSBEING INTERGRAL WITH ONE ANOTHER ALONG ONE EDGE OF SAID PACKAGE ANDHAVING MARGINAL PORTIONS IN SURFACE CONTACT ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF SAIDARRAY, SAID MARGINAL PORTIONS BEING SELECTED TOGETHER AT LEAST OVER PARTOF SAID PERIPHERY, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING FORMED WITHCHANNELS COMMUNICATING WITH THE CUPS THEREOF AND OPEN AT SAID PERIPHERYAND AT SAID ONE EDGE TO THE ATMOSPHERE FRO VENTILATING SAID CUPS.